August - October 1975

Fair is our lot - 0 goodly is our Heritage!
(Kipling - A Song of the English)

As the only Officer not around to defend to defend himself when the special jobs required in Northern Ireland were discussed my lot has been PRO and hence -the
production of this newsletter at short notice. The heritage, for which I am truly thankful, has been the other Articles written under Adverse conditions by those more skilful with the pen than I.
which gives me the opportunity of saying that the opinions, if any, that are expressed are not mine unless they are good ones.
We welcomed our new Commanding Officer Lt Col James Templer MBE RA before the start of Internal Security training. He has a great deal of experience of service in Northern Ireland particularly in Londonderry where he commanded a Battery. This experience was put to good use in Sennelager and we all returned much wiser and well equipped for the forthcoming", four month tour.

INTRODUCTION
The last three months have been packed with training for the Regiment's tour in Londonderry. However this has not precluded such normal activities as leave, hunter trials and sport.

This bumper edition contains the events from August, September and October as well as the first newsletter from Northern Ireland which we will be producing on a weekly basis for all our readers. The variety of events shows how versatile we all have been and how rewarding soldiering can still be, This is particularly evident in the article by F Troop on their project weekend, which was a well thought out and executed activity.

The Regiment is now deployed in four locations in the City Centre of Londonderry. l8 (Quebec) Battery whose soldiers are used to looking after city walls (a great number from Chester) are responsible for the Walled City and live in an old armoury and hutted camp on the banks of the Foyle. 49 (Inkerman) Battery look after the Strand Road area, they live in huts on a car park. Tac HQ lives in the old RUG station but gratefully eat with 49 Battery, while 94 (New Zealand) Battery live on the city wall over looking the Bogside which is their responsibility. The advance parties arrived during October and very quickly settled to the routine of learning the pereuliarities of our patch.

COMMANDING OFFICERS NOTES
It is my unpleasant duty to break the sad news to those of you who may not yet have heard that due to the recent Defence cuts our Regiment is to be disbanded in February 1977.
The restructuring of the Royal Regiment of Artillery has meant that The Regiment will have more Batteries but there will be fewer Regiments and for various reasons we happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, however it is considered relief to know that the gun batteries will remain and individually join the other Regiments. It has not yet been decided either which three Regiments we will add lustre to nor indeed which batteries will join which Regiments, but as soon as I know the plan is firm I will let you know. In the meantime rest assured that they will move complete with all their property and funds and this move will take place during February 1977.
The inevitable results of all this turmoil is my concern to retain our traditional Battery recruiting areas into which we have put so much work and from which we have reaped such good rewards. It is hoped to have confirmation shortly of our plan to retain the area, despite the fact that they say we will be some distance from the rest of the new Regiments various recruiting areas.
May I take this opportunity of saying how very proud I am to be Commanding Officer of 42nd Regiment, whose spirits are as high as ever and who are now totally in the problem of keeping the peace, which is never more difficult than doing it amongst ones own people.


18 (QUEBEC) BATTERY ROYAL ARTILERY
Thoughts On pre Sennelager Training

In August the Battery bade farewell to Major A J Nettleton RA, Battery Commander since November 1973" A period of intense leave-taking had prevented the 'Battery getting together after Major Nettleton made his official farewell at the conclusion of the Regimental practice camp, but a party was subsequently held in the Battery bar for an appropriate send-off. Apologies for absence were received from Sweep and Poppy,
Major Nettleton has gone to command Headquarter Battery until later this month when he is posted to Woolwich. We wish him the very best of luck for the future .

As it's new BC the Battery welcomes Major F N J DAVIES RA who has spent the past two years with 39 Bde in Belfast and takes over the Battery just in time to lead it back to Ireland.
Much hard work has been put in, by the Battery since training for it's tour in Londonderry began in earnest on August 26th.
Two years of pure gunnery had seen not only the erosion of infantry skills but also a considerable turnover of personnel within the Battery so that a large number now face their first tour in Ireland.

Training must inevitably prepare one for the worst and it was with all thoughts of the current "low profile" in the Province put firmly to the back of all minds that the war began; the war that included getting fit, learning to shoot rifles straight, patrolling, searching. and the mastering of a dozen other skills. The Battery's search teams were selected and dispatched to Sennelager to learn from the Royal Engineers the science of staying alive when faced with the. possibility of encountering- an explosive device. Courses were also undertaken in the Intelligence and Terrorist Recognition fields and much classroom work done to acquaint all with the places and people who will become part of life for the next four months.
Dynamic assistance was provided by the Royal Regiment of Wales in the shape of Sgts Buckley and Rees who guided, advised and talked rugby throughout, Special thanks go to them.
In all a satisfactory period that prepared the Battery well for two weeks at the Sennelager training centre which was to be the culmination of training for the forthcoming tour

18 (Quebec) Battery celebrate Quebec Day

Due to Northern Ireland training we decided to hold Quebec Day on Friday 12th September although the 216th anniversary of the famous battle was on 15th September.

The day began with the Officers and Senior NCO's taking around suitably doctored morning tea' to all the single soldiers. These included members of 50 Missile Regiment, 94 Locating Regiment and our own Regiment's workshops who were attached to us for our Northern Ireland training.
At 0725 we heard the voice of the BFBS announcer giving our greetings to all who had fought at Quebec, 'Climb every Mountain' was considered a suitable piece of music for the occasion and was duly played by the BFBS.

After breakfast the battery assembled to hear a lecture on the battle of Quebec by Lt Christopher Sibley. This was followed by a short open air service conducted by padre John Webb.

The whole battery then repaired to the Fallingbostel open air swimming pool for an inter troop swimming gala organised by 2Lt Peter Ramsay.
There was a marked reluctance to take to the water until the BC and Major Nicholas Davies “broke the ice” by leaping in and declaring the gala open. After several exciting races and some novelty events the battery HQ emerged the winners.

After lunch we were joined by our families and friends for an inter troop “it’s a knockout” competition organised by the BSM, Wo2 Terry Mallinder.
After several exhausting games and many soakings in water and beer, battery HQ were declared the winners and the Commanding officers wife Mrs James Templer presented
Sgt. David Blackburn with the Battery Its a Knockout trophy.

The day ended with a most enjoyable Quebec Day Dance in the Stand Easy Club where members of the Battery, their wives and guests danced into the night.

Signals were exchanged with other units including the Royal Navy and Infantry Battalions who had fought at the Battle of Quebec.

TRAINING AT SENNELAGER
The Regiment moved to Sennelager on 19th September for the highlight of our training for service in Northern Ireland. The facilities at Sennelager are unparalleled, which made it essential that they be put to good use for every minute of availability. Hence, from the start, we adopted an 18 hour working day - in itself useful training for our new role.
The live firing ranges were open to us from 0830 to 1600 and 2000 to 23OO
hours daily.
We used six of the many various ranges available. The most interesting, ingenious, and realistic range was the Urban Close Quarter battle range, which takes the form of a street scene. Complete with houses, shops, a pub, a Post Office, cars and dummy people, the range is controlled from an elevated observation tower and can be programmed to simulate 150 situations, varying from bomb and sniper attacks to mis-informants, hoaxes, false target (such as 'children') coming out of doors. The idea of the range is to accommodate a patrol of 4 men sent out on a mission during which they are attacked. The patrol is then watched and recorded on video tape as it reacts to the programmed incidents. At the end of a 15 minute ''session" the patrol is debriefed on its mistakes in tactics, techniques, and reactions.
Another ingenious range was the rural close quarter battle run, in which targets leap from behind trees or jump up from trenches, or appear around a building as the firer walks along a woodland path. Firers only have only a glimpse of the target - some 3 to 5 seconds - in which to fire off a bullet, take cover and fire again.

Undoubtedly the climax to the training at Sennelager was the time spent in "tin city". This is a specially constructed township so named because part of it is made of corrugated iron. The latter part is so erected and painted as to look amazingly like a village of tumbledown Victorian terraced houses. Adjacent to the old quarter is a small village of modern houses, shops, a pub, a garage, and a Police Station, Into all this 60 soldiers were turned loose to live for a fortnight as the townsfolk. Of this gang some 10 to 15 were organised as hard core terrorists, whilst the remainder filled the scene as realistically -is they could, making the town live. There was the postman, the milkman, the policeman, the bookie, the garage- mechanic, the priest, and, of course, the doctor. This latter role was superbly played by 'Captain Bill • MacDonald. The significance of the doctor was his role as 'Community leader” in other words he controlled the enemy and organised events (usually provocative) for the security forces to deal with. We had car bombs, parcel bombs, hoax bombs and 'home goal1 bombs. We had sniping, assassinations, Knee capping. We had demonstrations- riots, civil disobedience, and open general Hostility. In a total of 72 hours we were faced with almost every situation that could occur in Northern Irish terrorism. we certainly came out of 'tin city1 much
wiser souls than we went in.

For all we spent thirteen action packed days (and nights!) at Sennelager, firing rifles, searching houses and cars, leaping out of helicopters, and bandit hunting, shaping all the techniques we shall need to combat the IRA and other terrorist groups that will face us for the next four months. We hope it stands us in good stead.
94 (NEW ZEALAND) BATTERY HA
POST SENNELAGER TRAINING
The Kiwis withdrew from a secluded- tented-camp at Sennelager to St Barbara Barracks and the fleshpots of Fallingbostel on Thursday 2 October 75 following a 12 day pre Ireland indoctrination session during which good use was made of the excellent training facilities offered by Sennelager.

Sighs of relief of the thought of 3 days relaxation before getting to grips with filling the 3 week- still to go before the advance party move to Derry. Sighs of dismay on Monday morning when some of the less enterprising members of the battery had failed to return on time from England. One had even gone home: for the weekend leaving his wife in Fallingbostel. !!Extraordinary!!

"BSM" said the BC. "Here is the training programme for the next 3 or 4 Weeks. I want this followed meticulously. You will see that I have placed emphasis on 'fitness, aikido: knowledge of our patch, terrorist recognition and the perfection of anti aggro and riot drills.

'Sir!" he replied, "Obliviously you have not seen what I have seen!" He left the office and returned a moment later carrying an armful of papers and files and proceeded to dominate the stage for ten or fifteen minutes as he passed letters and files over the desk for perusal. Subjects included chalk lists for flights to Ireland, copious notes on freight movement, directions on dress to be worn in operations rooms, in messes and on aeroplanes, charge sheets, three summonses, a letter allocating five days of rifle range space, the first allocation the following day, the draw for the inter troop football competition, reminders' about weekend initiative exercises and Troop projects; inter Troop Rugby competitions. Hockey competitions, Football Cup, local Derby, Small. Arms PRE, vehicle and equipment inspections, issues of puttees and polo necks, closure of accounts, SOP quiz, Yellow Card quiz, TV Training, Mess Nights, Senior Officers visits etc etc..

."Oh" said the "B.C,' "BSM, it looks as if I may have to adjust my programme slightly".

"Yes Sir", he replied, "Those things were really for information. Now for the action points.'" These followed thick and fast. A new housing estate was to be built on the Gun. Park and help was required, a day acting as enemy for an exercise, a day on which to be exercised, cleaning, painting and preservation' of equipment and so on".
Somehow it was all done. Its still difficult to see where the training came into it but we had a thoroughly active and enjoyable three weeks culminating in a good exercise and a great party at the Stand Easy on 23rd October, well supported by Kiwis past and present.- Those still to come with the main party have a further week in which to train.
The only clash during the three weeks was first report for the Advance Party chalk - half ours were still playing hockey.' The "crash out" after this game when a summons to the gun park came was good training though and doubtless paddy-will design a few more training exercises during the next four months^
INKERMANIA '75

This year 49 Inkerman battery Royal Artillery celebrated its Battery "Day a little earlier than usual.
The date was advanced from 5 November, the actual anniversary of the battle to
25 October, which was the latest date when the Battery was as complete as possible prior to the move to Londonderry.
In the event Inkerman Day consisted of three parts; the preparations, a parade? and --, battery dance„ The preparations really got under way when the battery returned from Sennelager. Despite all the other things that were happening time was found to rehearse the parade, clean and polish the guns and vehicles, accumulate the stores (mainly liquid) required for the dance, sell raffle tickets and complete the hundred and one other tasks that had to be done..
The morning of 25 October proved to be damp and foggy. When the guns and vehicles were positioned the visibility on the Gun Park was little more than 75 metres. However the mist lifted sufficiently by ten to eleven for the battery to be seen marching on to parade to music provided by the band of the 3rd Battalion Light Infantry.
The salute was taken by the MGRA, Major General P.B. POSTER MC, who had travelled up from Bielefeld for the occasion. After the Battery Commander had read out to the parade an account of the Battle of Inkerman and the part played in the battle by Company Sergeant Andrew HENRY, Sgt Henry's Victoria Cross was trooped before the battery.

A short drumhead service then followed and after the battery had Advanced in Review Order, the Battery Captain requested permission for the battery to drive past. Thankfully every vehicle started and the battery successfully completed the rather complicated drive past without mistake or mishap.
The exhausts of the guns and vehicles added substantially to the level of mist in the Gun Park but at this stage it did not matter as the spectators made their way across the park to a small reception in one of the garage buildings. Hot punch revived cold fingers and increased circulation.

After lunch the final preparations were made for the dance which was held in the gymnasium - sorry P & RTC.
Any doubts that might have been held over the possible success of the dance were quickly dispelled as the numbers in the gym quickly built up and the party started to swing.
The dance section of the band of the 13th/l8th Hussars played their hearts out, the barmen were worked off their feet and everyone had a most enjoyable evening, so much so that when the time came to go one or two were most reluctant to depart.
Despite all the hard work and the loss of a long weekend before Op Banner, Inkerman day '75 was rated a success by everybody.
Like all these occasions the day had its dramas and panics but all these were behind the scenes and we hoped no-one noticed. After all the rush and hard work the battery looks forward, hopefully, for a quiet, uneventful time in Northern Ireland.
THE INTER TROOP COMPETITION
(2Lt Stevenson, I Troop Commander)
The Inter Troop Competition was devised before Northern Ireland training actually began. It was so successful that it was decided to have another competition between the now increased number of IS Troops who were allocated more than a dozen letters of the alphabet and seemingly not in any logical order.
This may have been purposely devised in order to outwit the enemy.

The competition had an IS flavour and was in a way a test of our readiness for Northern Ireland, with team games such as rugby and hockey thrown in.
We played the first round on the last day of our Sennelager training and this was the full bore shooting competition. We did disastrously in this competition and I thought that this would set us right back. We did badly but luckily somebody else did worse than us.
We redeemed ourselves by winning the rugby and football competitions. In the rugby our team was in the main novices and the first time we played together was in our first match. We played an equally novice team and won. We then found ourselves pitted against C Troop. The final was a very hard fought match which we narrowly won. the games were played with a standard of sportsmanship which only seems to be displayed by inexperience’s exponents of the sport.

We faced C Troop again in the final of the football. We won this game also and consumed a well deserved crate of beer on the pitch afterwards.
The Yellow Card Quiz was a head turning event in which the Regiment turned out on God's Acre -and were seen from a distance to be scrabbling around on their knees on the sacred tarmac doing something on the ground. From a distance it resembled -an inter troop pavement artist competition.

For the weekend project the Troop Commander organised an educational trip to Hamburg of all places. Paced with something Of a cultural grey area we eventually managed to enjoy our day in Hamburg which predictably ended in that famous half-mile near the docks. We will mention the car recognition test only in passing as the troop commander only submitted a team of one instead of three due to a misunderstanding, but Bdr Sturgess gave a good account of himself in the car recognition.

The drill and turnout competition was sprung on us as something of a surprise and the day before was spent on the Co’s final exercise. Nevertheless a very smart I Troop was marched onto the Regimental square at the appointed time and was meticulously scrutinised. There are more competitions to come and shortly we should know the results of the PPA tests, the small bore shooting and the hockey competitions. Our tour in Londonderry should, be something of a rest after this activity.

THE INITIATIVE TEST WEEKEND

The word initiative flashes scenes of trying to open a tin of baked beans without an opener on the wastes of Dartmoor upon a vivid mind. On this occasion the Battery Commander of 18 Battery (the organiser of the event) did not have such evil thoughts as the scribe and it meant returning to Fallingbostel having been Dumped far a field with only DM5 in ones pocket.

All the single soldiers in the Troops were marshalled at 5.30 pm on Friday 10th of October and loaded onto 4 toners. They were dropped in pairs at the. corners of a triangle with Fallingbostel as the centre. That is those who didn't use their initiative and dismount at the Guardroom as the driver was booking out. 'The three points were St Andoasberg in the Harz Mountains, Wilhelmshaven which is up the coast from Hamburg towards Denmark and Bunde, a town in the centre of the North German Plain. Each soldier had been given a slip of paper with an explanation of his plight written in German so that if an accident occurred he could obtain help rapidly, and they were all dressed in civilian clothes. One troop was so cunning that the married soldiers were sent in cars to follow the 4 toners .and bring the competitors home. They were all back by 11.30 pm. However one soldier showed even more initiative in getting himself apprehended by the Military Police within half an hour of being dropped off at Bunde. They kept him in the 'nick' all weekend which ruined his plans

Those who made a weekend of it and did not reappear until Sunday evening must either have had a very lean time or struck up the most tremendous friendship with a German. The latter would be very useful to the Anglo-German Society. For those who took part it was an interesting exercise and one from which they will have gained experience for when they go on a Grew Commanders Course in the future.

''F" TROOP PROJECT

EX HOSPITAL HELP - (17th - 19th OCT 1975)

The "Fabulous F Troop departed from Fallingbostel at approx
1330 hrs, Friday 17th by train.....destination, BMH Iserlohn.
Well after a few puffs of smoke and an uneventful journey we arrived at Iserlohn, and I noticed it was just coming up to 2000 hrs, so that wasn't bad going. Anyway, *e were met at the Railway Station by the RQMS who accommodated us and gave us a grand tour of the Hospital, showing us the ropes. Well after doing this for a while some of the lads started getting the "needle", so we all settled into the NAAFI for the night, and by 2310 hrs, we were all bedded down.

We were up bright and early Saturday morning so we would not miss breakfast, which started spot on 0700 hrs. We started work at 0800 hrs, and I detailed off certain bodies to do certain jobs. Gnr FOWLS was given the job of taking the meal trolleys round the wards and soon became well known as Heals on Wheels, clocking up a fair few miles during the course of the weekend. Gnrs JOHN and SLEIGH were sent to help in the Mortuary to do some 'stiff work, and were overheard saying "we always get the dead-end jobs". The remainder of our brain surgeons were put to work helping clean up some of the wards.
We stopped for lunch at 1230 hrs and after eating like blood hungry savages, we started back on our "operation" at 1^00 hrs, and spent the remainder of the afternoon doing various jobs about the Hospital and getting the occasional glimpse of Meals on Wheels, breaking speed limits about the Hospital with his trolleys. Saturday night were yet again spent in the NAAFI, and this time we were busy learning First aid with the nurses.

Sunday morning was an extra few hours in bed, getting a well deserved lie in because we didn't have to start operations again until 10OO hrs. But the breakfast trolley still had to be taken round at 0700 hrs, so the lads all helped Meals on 'heels take the trolleys to the wards and collect them again afterwards. At 1000 hrs we reported to the RQMS, and as just about everywhere was 'dead', we had the task of helping to clean the Sgts Mess after a hectic Saturday night, and we had that completely stitched by 1200 hrs. We all then went for dinner, and prepared for our return journey. After saying farewell to everyone we caught our return train at 1**QO hrs arriving back in Fallingbostel by 2100 hrs Sunday evening.
Although none of us became quite a qualified psychiatrist, some of us were told to go and see one, but I can gladly say we have all fully recovered now, and are ready for our next operation (Op Banner).

POSTINGS IN
August
Lt Col J R Templer MBE
SGT Fuller (ACC)
GNR Belshaw
GNR Barrow
GNR John
GNR Lambert
GNR Bukonski
GNR Ode11

September
Capt J L M Thornton
SGT Davies
LBDR Linnell
PTE Cowan (ACC)
GNR Allison
GNR Bryne GNR Duncan
GNR Hannaway GNR Marks
GNR Parry
GNR Rigby
GNR King
GNR Langgaard
GNR Allen

October
LBDR Quinn
LCPL Fitzgerald (ACC)
PTE Hartley (ACC)
GNR Cooper
GNR Oakes
GNR Salt

POSTINGS OUT
August
Lt Col BK Warner
SGT Whitby
SGT Gater
BDR Gregory
LBDR Abbott

September
Maj R BoIton
BDR Prior
BDR Pickering

October
SGT Cotton
GNR Fortune

PROMOTIONS
18 Bty
LBDR Carter to BDR
LBDR Cunliffe to BDR

49 Bty
BDR Harris to SGT
LBDR Adam to BDR
GNR Allen to LBDR
GNR Edwards to LBDR
GNR Sedgwick to LBDR
GNR Siverns to LBDR
GNR Stanton to LBDR

94 Bty
LBDR Hailes to BDR
LBDR Jubb to BDR
LBDR McCallum to BDR
LBDR Sturgess to BDR
GNR Sanderson to LBDR

HQ Bty
GNR Swansbrough to LBDR

VISITS
28 August Lt General Sir Jack Harman KCB OBE MC Comd 1 Brgde Corps
23 September Brig J A Stephenson OBE Comd 1 Div
25 September Maj Gen P B Foster MC MGRA
22 October Maj Gen J W Stanier MBE GOC 1 Div
25 October Maj Gen P B Foster MC MGRA
27 October Brig J A Stephenson OBE Comd 1 Arty Bde

The Kiwi is a. small flightless bird which is shy and spends most of it's time in the undergrowth. This definition cannot be applied to I Troop who won both the Soccer -and Ruby in the Inter Troop Competition.

A ' RIDE OUT

A four month tour of Northern Ireland is very much like a ten mile route march. Distasteful in prospect but satisfying on completion.

It was with some relief though that the main part of the Troop set off in the small hours of the fifth of. November for the Emerald isle. We appeared to have spent the two weeks prior to our departure scrubbing the accommodation, .greasing and degreasing the guns, (ASM please note), and trying to conjure' up forty fatigue men from a troop strength of twenty seven. Our journey out to Ireland was thankfully uneventful.

Lbdr,s Steve Shaw and Dan Archer were allotted the enviable job of organising all the Batteries baggage for the outward journey, the muscle being provided by gunners Gilly Gillison, Colin Hatenboer, Pte George Gross and the muscle bound half of the Dalzell twins, 520.
All three of these lads were shattered on arrival in Derry after having loaded and unloaded all the baggage no less than 7 times.

During our first week the Troop has been accommodated in the Hawkin St armoury (which by the way has changed very little since the Regiments last tour in Londonderry in 1970) However now that work has started on new accommodation which compared to the present arrangements will be luxurious.
Our sage well known haggis basher, craftsman Alan (Jock) McNaught confidently predicts that the new building will be completed by 1989.
“A” troops takeover from their counterparts in 2nd Fld Regt was guaranteed to run smoothly after the hard work and sound preparation done by the advance party of Bombardiers Such Barber, Charlie castle and Dave Waterman. Our every had been anticipated and we were able to get on with the job straight away.

Our first impression of Londonderry on this tour are very favourable and everyone has settled down very well. It is a little bit of an anti climax though, because after the intense training we did in Germany the pace here seems very slow, lets hope it stays that way.

On Sunday the 9th November the troop assisted in the search of some large partly derelict buildings in our area. L/bdr Taff Evans and his merry men put in some very hard work in very unpleasant conditions. Sad to say the search was fruitless but it is early days yet and our area presents plenty of opportunities for searching.

Sunday also marked the 20th birthday of Gnr Steve Landers, and a small surprise party was organised by the troop. Steve was given the day off and a huge birthday card was signed by all the members of the troop, presented to him along with the birthday cake bearing 20 candles… Happy Birthday Steve…

To all the loved ones we have left behind, we send our warmest regards and best wishes and will keep you informed of activities over the next four months.

C TROOP

The Troop left Fallingbostel with morale high after the day of waiting for the tour to begin. On arrival at RAF Gutersloh we were met by an extremely luxurious YC 10. This was definitely our lucky day. We landed at RAF Aldergrove to be met by the RSM clad in flak jacket and armed with his SLR. There was a lump in my throat, not because of the thought of problems in Londonderry, but because I felt guilty about the length of my hair.
After a long, tedious drive we arrived in Londonderry in time for lunch. It was a relief to have arrived at long last, to say farewell to 2 Field Regiment and begin our duties as "C Troop, 49 Inkerman Battery in Londonderry". The locals of the Strand Area knew within minutes of our first stag on the various check-points, that we were new to the area purely because of our happy polite approach. This was one of the lessons learnt at Sennelager Our smiling faces soon dropped as we were given the cold shoulder by a few of the locals. For example, Sgt Mick Thorpe's section, consisting of Lbdr John Morgan, Gnr Mike Durbridge, Rich Fieldhouse, Steve Smith, Ian Portlock, Ken Binns, and -John Bukowski whilst on duty at F1 greeted someone with "good morning", to which they received various replies such as Good Morning, Good Night, a down cast look with no reply, and well, we won't go into the other ones. As the days pass by the locals have become more friendly. Let us hope that it stays that way.

E TP NOTES
Although the patch" has been relatively quiet since we arrived, we have had a few small incidents.
Sgt John Lofty Myatt sports with pride the only brick wound the Regiment has suffered whilst it has been over here. On the night in question he was seen running around the Battery location showing the profix bleeding from his head, it was so grave that numerous people thought they would have to indent for a microscope in order that they might see it.
We work a nine-day cycle incorporating OP, patrolling and standby / base guard. The system is so evolved so that the boys are not overworked and yet have certainly enough on their minds to keep them busy all the time.
Our successes include numerous house searching in which the Troop Search teams excelled, led very capably by Sgt Pete Graham and LBdr Bobby Pattison. The arrest of two wanted men was professionally executed by 1 and 2 sections.
The reserves of duty free cigarettes are beginning to drain away and the boys no longer can tell the difference between Stork and butter, But they will always be able to distinguish duty-free fags from the British bought variety.
A1J. the boys in the troop send their love and best wishes to families and girl friends and with R & R in the not-to-distant future, hope to see you all fit and well then. Final note: Very little weight is being put on, but in Bdr Tony Lovell's case this is due to the amount of hair he is losing.
All the boys in the troop send their love and best wishes to families and girl friends and with R&R in the not too distance future, hope to see you all fit and well then.
Final note :- very little weight is being put on, but in Bdr Tony Lovells case this is due to the amount of hair he is losing….

LETTER FROM J TP OF 18 BATTERY BY SSGT McGOWAN (TP COMD)

Well here we are at the start of our four month tour in Londonderry. We have managed to get over the first week with the help of our advance party which consisted of Sgts Sammy Douglas and Les Charlton, Bdr Roger Glanfield and LBdr Robert McPherson who have been taking us out on patrols to show us our area of operations, After three days they have agreed that it is safe to let us patrol on our own as we can find our .way back now.

It is always difficult to establish a new role but I am pleased to say the lads have been marvellous, they know they have a job to do and they just get on with it.
We are accommodated in Bridge Camp where the food and living quarters are good so there are no complaints in that quarter.

Talking about food, if Gunner Al Green carries on eating the quantities he puts away now we will have to roll him round on patrols. He eats enough for the whole troop.
We have had two birthdays in the troop since we arrived, Bdr Roger Glanfield and Cpl Phil Silk so we say Happy Birthday Roger and Phil, although I don't believe they are only 21.
* •
So until next month, when I will have some more news for you I say keep smiling and cheers for now from the lads of Shiney !J!.

THE FORT GEORGE SCENE

The Echelon advance party, having left Effing Bee at "sparrows" finally arrived in this beautiful city of Londonderry at 1750 hrs. Some of us managed to get a bed and the less unfortunate had to forage around for a pit. The journey was hampered by "Crab Air" who were a little below par on their normal efficiency. It has been known to get to Hong Kong in a lesser time.
Having settled aboard HMS RAME HEAD which has a 20° list to starboard, a few members of the Echelon experienced a good nights sleep, the less unfortunate who were accommodated on the left of Port side found themselves out of bed more times than they were in. The Captain of the ship is bit worried with the- great exodus of personnel who have decided to take up residence on the mainland in preference to the ship s he thinks this is a bad omen that the ship may sink.

Page 19

We were all relieved to find out the Phantom roving around the ship at midnight was only Trixie Filby inquiring that when he gets his BFG licence back he will be able to drive this thing up the Foyle for a cabby.
.SSgt (Duffy) Cheeseman Lbdr (Cooking Phat) Clark-Patterson and Gnr Keith Platt have already run the messing in to debt to the tune of £1,500 and we haven't even issued the officers messes with their Stilton yet.

Young Mitchison took MOLAR Major and RQM3 (Molar Minor) Covell out to Leterkenny Vehicle Check Point and only to be greeted by the odd missile expertly thrown by the local thugs. Now, when Molar Major ventures out of the safety of Fort" George young Mitch is always too busy or has more' important things to do. This is a good thing for peace keeping, as like all mad. Hitches, he would tear them apart.

The driver section of Echelon, Lbdr (Geordie) Harrison, Gnr (Swamp. Rat) Armstrong, Gnr (Ritchie) Richards have all decided to move into the duty room permanently as the duties "come round to often".
Scribe Eddie Crossley has been burning the midnight oil getting The Boss's typing completed and has frowned on the idea of wearing a skirt and bra when making tea.
We are blessed with the presence of Padre John Webb who spends most evenings listening to tape recordings of his daughter singing "All things bright and beautiful", and most of his days riding around in his private car with Gnr (Jersey Light Weight) Sliwka, both in civilian clothes looking like a cross between the Golly Contractor and the Boss of the Mafia.
Having solved most of the Regiments problems we at Fort George will now hibernate until the next edition of Regimental Mag when we will again report what’s happening at Echn.

Ed- Molar is the nickname given to Quartermasters and is used over the radio.

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